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Before they first took to the streets, the stateless bidoun community in Kuwait thought extensively about how best to claim their rights to identity, education, and health care (among other concerns). They had studied campaigns from other countries and other periods of history.

Inspired by the U.S. civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr., they decided to take a peaceful and non-confrontational approach.

They picked this approach for two reasons. First, generations of Kuwaitis have grown up understanding the bidoun through dehumanizing propaganda. Kuwaitis were often told that the bidoun were thieves, violent, and unorganized – and that stereotype stuck for many in Kuwaiti society. The bidoun, who are often well-read and exceptionally engaged with the world, needed to counter this myth and start reaching Kuwaitis who had dismissed their existence and rights for decades.

Second, the bidoun were keenly aware that the Kuwaiti government might counter their protests with violence, so they decided to arm themselves with gestures of peace.

Photos of the community’s protests, spread widely on social networking sites, are revealing. During the protests, bidoun donated blood and gave roses to the special police who beat and arrested them. They held balloons, carried photos of Kuwait’s emir, and marched with a Kuwaiti flag measuring 50 meters – one meter for every year their rights have been denied.

In the days following the protests, bidoun drivers caught with Kuwaiti flags, roses, or balloons in their cars were arrested because these patriotic and gentle gestures were associated with the demonstrations.

The bidoun also organized an “I Have a Dream” campaign for their children. At each protest, about 30 children dressed up as the person they would like to be when they grew up, if given the chance to attend school and college. Among the crowd were four-foot-tall doctors, firemen, teachers and politicians.

In honor of Dr. King and the human rights movements that had gone before them, they carried signs reading, “I Have a Dream.” Seemingly charmed, one Special Forces commander on the scene posed for a photo with the children – before ordering a violent crackdown to disperse the crowd.

Steadfast in their tactics, the bidoun offered tea and coffee to members of the Special Forces, even after the violence. They picked up trash left in the protest area, including the tear gas canisters, noise bombs, and rubber bullets that were shot at them.

Actions do speak louder than words, and photos of the protests have challenged popular stereotypes of the bidoun and outraged many Kuwaiti nationals – so much so that some Kuwaitis are now joining the protests. Just as important, the fabrication of the “savage” bidoun is being replaced by the reality of thousands of individuals demanding their most basic human rights.

The tactics of the protests – peaceful demonstration coupled with a positive, hopeful view of the Kuwaiti nation – are both daring and dangerous, but they have provided a platform on which the bidoun can raise their voices.

The world must now push the Kuwaiti government to engage the bidoun in a genuine dialogue. The right of every person to nationality, education, and peaceful assembly should never be overlooked in favor of trade deals or bases. And while some fear that simply by mentioning the bidoun diplomats or international organizations could be expelled by the Kuwaiti government, those fears are misplaced. Kuwait has so much to gain from its overseas relationships – especially with Europe and the United States – that bringing up the bidoun would have little impact on strategic discussions.

The bidoun have put forward all they can to demand change: their bodies and voices. The least that concerned nations can do is acknowledge this and insist that Kuwait restore the bidoun’s rights once and for all.